Field trip for black students only sparks controversy at Ann Arbor elementary school

An Ann Arbor elementary school principal used a letter home to parents tonight to defend a field trip for black students as part of his schoolâs efforts to close the achievement gap between white and black students.

Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison wrote the letter to parents following several days of controversy at the school after a field trip last week in which black students got to hear a rocket scientist.

Mike-Madison.JPG

Principal Mike Madison is shown at Forsythe in this 2005 file photo.

âIn hindsight, this field trip could have been approached and arranged in a better way," Madison wrote. "But as I reflect upon the look of excitement, enthusiasm and energy that I saw in these childrenâs eyes as they stood in the presence of a renowned African American rocket scientist in a very successful position, it gave the kids an opportunity to see this type of achievement is possible for even them.

âIt was not a wasted venture for I know one day they might want to aspire to be the first astronaut or scientist standing on the Planet Mars.

âI also think itâs important that you know that I have talked to the children who did not go on the field trip, and I think they have a better understanding of the purpose of the AA Lunch Bunch now, as I hope you do. Iâm sorry if any kids were upset by the field trip or my discussion afterwards with them, and I have let them know that.

âThe intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.â

A handful of parents have complained to district administrators about the trip, the group and Madison. More than a half-dozen parents contacted AnnArbor.com to raise the complaints, but none would agree to talk on the record, citing concerns of reprisals to their children by Madison.

While thereâs no clear agreement between the two sides about exactly what happened, most of the controversy centers on a field trip taken last week by the Lunch Bunch for African American boys and girls to hear a black rocket engineer talk.

District spokeswoman Liz Margolis said after the trip was over, those who went returned to their fifth-grade class and were greeted by boos by those who didnât go on the trip. Margolis said Madison, who is black, heard the boos, and went to talk to the class. She said he and the class had a âdiscussionâ about race issues.

âHe wasnât yelling at them. He was very passionate about it,â Margolis said.

Parents have complained he was yelling at the class and belittled a Muslim girl who said she also had experienced racism and discrimination.

The program itself began earlier this year after the school received its latest achievement results. Margolis said the Lunch Bunch came from the schoolâs School Improvement Team and is tied to that teamâs goals. She said several other schools in the district have similar programs targeting specific subgroups of students who are at risk.

According to meeting minutes, Madison introduced the club to the PTO in February as part of the school and districtâs equity work.

Parent Vicki Haviland, who is white and has three children at Dicken, said she is supportive of the overall program. Haviland is the secretary of the Dicken PTO and has filed papers for the open school board seat.

âI think the African-American Lunch Bunch is totally in line with the districtâs equity work,â she said. âI think the field trip was a fine idea.â

She said she hopes the school and the district would âdo a better job in talking about (race in education). Clearly there are people who donât feel heard about it.â

âThe intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.â

More...

I wonder what he would say if some school organizied a field trip for white kids only. I bet he'd have a much stronger and completely different opinion.

One of my favorite movie quotes is from "Kingdom of Heaven" where the hero, Balian of Ibelin, is giving his rally speech to the troops before the big battle to defend Jerusalem.

"It has fallen to us to defend Jerusalem, and we have made our preparations as well as they can be made. None of us took this city from Muslims. No Muslim of the great army now coming against us was born when this city was lost. We fight over an offense we did not give, against those who were not alive to be offended.........''

Today's racial tensions are based in a similar fashion........ when the sins of our grandfathers can be forgotten and the color of a persons skin is a non-issue, (on both sides)...... we will find healing.